In line with the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021 provisions of transiting assets from the Petroleum Profit Tax (PPT) into PIA terms, the NNPC Ltd and its Joint Venture (JV) partner, Chevron Nigeria Ltd (CNL), have concluded the conversion of five of its JV assets into the PIA terms.
R-L: GCEO NNPC Ltd, Mr. Mele Kyari; Director, Deepwater and Production Sharing Contract (PSC) of Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL), Mrs. Michelle Pflueger; and Queen Nwaha Torkwasi of Legal Department, Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), display signed documents during a ceremony on conversion of the NNPC/CNL JV assets into PIA terms, held at the NNPC Towers in Abuja, on Monday
Under the new PIA regime, all existing Oil Prospecting Licenses (OPLs) and Oil Mining Leases (OMLs) would be automatically converted to Petroleum Prospecting Licenses (PPLs) and Petroleum Mining Leases (PMLs) upon their expiration.
Nonetheless, an option of voluntary conversion is provided for holders of OPLs and OMLs (Operator, Licensees or Lessees) under the erstwhile Petroleum Profit Tax (PPT) regime. The PIA terms are generally perceived as more investor-friendly, compared to the erstwhile PPTA terms.
During a brief ceremony held at the NNPC Towers on Monday, September 9, 2024, the two partners signed documents on the conversion of five OMLs into four PPLs and 26 PMLs, in line with the new PIA terms, marking a significant step towards increasing domestic gas supply and expanding global market presence.
Speaking at the occasion, Group CEO NNPC Ltd, Mr. Mele Kyari, described CNL as one of the most reliable partners for the NNPC Ltd.
“Over the years, Chevron has been a partner of choice that has not contemplated completely divesting/exiting (oil production in) the shallow water and we are proud of them,” he added.
Kyari assured CNL that NNPC Ltd would sustain its partnership with the JV partner so as to create more value for both parties and expand Nigeria’s footprints in the domestic and export gas markets.
He commended the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) for its exemplary role in midwifing the conversion.
The Director, Deepwater and Production Sharing Contract (PSC) of CNL, Mrs. Michelle Pflueger, who stressed the significance of the conversion for both companies, affirmed CNL’s long-standing commitment to the assets.
Also speaking, NNPC Ltd’s Executive Vice President, Upstream, Mrs. Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, highlighted the advantages of the PIA terms over the previous PPT terms, noting that the conversion was a strategic move towards the successful implementation of the PIA.
In his remarks, NNPC Ltd’s Chief Upstream Investment Officer, Mr. Bala Wunti, noted that the assets conversion is expected to significantly boost crude oil production, with the two partners focusing on attaining the 165,000 barrels of oil per day (bopd) production target by year-end 2024.
He emphasised the continued importance of CNL’s operational philosophy in maintaining network stability and facilitating gas supply especially to the domestic market.
Minister of State for Environment, Dr Iziaq Salako, says that vehicular emissions are the greatest contributor to air pollution in Nigeria.
Vehicular pollution
He made this statement in Abuja on Saturday, September 7, at a ceremony to commemorate the 2024 International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies, observed annually on September 7.
“Like most parts of the world, vehicular emissions are the primary source of air pollution.
“This issue is exacerbated in our country by the numerous old, second-hand, and third-hand vehicles on our roads,” he said.
Salako identified other sources of air pollution to include industrial activities, illegal refining, gas flaring, refuse burning, household cooking and power generation.
He emphasised the need to improve air quality, citing global concerns about air pollution as the world’s single largest environmental health risk.
The minister praised President Bola Tinubu’s initiative to promote alternative fuels such as compressed natural gas, liquefied natural gas, and electric vehicles, to enhance air quality.
He warned that failing to address air pollution would have far-reaching consequences for public health, the economy, and the environment.
Salako assured Nigerians that the government would implement measures, including tariffs and taxes, to discourage the importation of old vehicles and encourage local manufacturing.
He noted that the day aimed to raise awareness about the importance of clean air for human and environmental health, productivity, and economic growth.
The minister appealed for collective investment in clean air, citing the global agenda to reduce air pollutants by 50 per cent by 2030.
“For us to be healthy, we must breathe healthy air. Let us all invest in clean air now,” he urged.
The National Agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW) has restated commitment to safeguard shelter belts in ensuring the success of its operations.
Director-General of the National Agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW), Alhaji Saleh Abubakar
The Director-General of the agency, Alhaji Saleh Abubakar, stated this on Saturday, September 7, 2024, during a field inspection at Fagwalawa community in Makoda Local Government Area of Kano State.
According to him, a robust mechanism will be evolved to ensure maximum protection of the shelter belt in the front-line states.
Abubakar underscored the critical role of the agency’s mission in combating desertification and promoting sustainable land management.
He said the agency would plant more trees to address land degradation, afforestation and other environmental challenges, adding that it accorded priority to awareness creation on the importance of nurturing and safeguarding trees for sustainability.
According to Abubakar, the field visit is to assess and appraise progress of its projects and identify grey areas for improvement.
Also speaking, Mr Ahmad Ismail, Kano Field Officer, NAGGW, said that Fagwalawa site was one of the key locations of the agency’s shelter belt projects.
The project, he said, is designed to fast-track establishment of tree and vegetation network, to protect against soil erosion and desert encroachment.
“The project is part of the agency’s broader efforts to address environmental degradation and promote sustainable development in the region,” he said, adding that the agency had mobilised communities toward the attainment of its mandate.
He, therefore, urged the communities to take ownership of the facilities to reduce poverty and restore the lost land.
Abubakar is in Kano on a two-day familiarisation visit.
He also met with consultants and field officers of the 11 front-line states during the visit.
Following the recent announcement by Southern Dental Industries Limited (SDI) that it will cease production of dental amalgam by 2028 or earlier, environmental NGO, BAN Toxics, has raised concerns that the timeline set by the world’s leading manufacturer of dental amalgam is unacceptably delayed.
Use of dental amalgam
SDI, an Australian-based company engaged in the research, development, manufacturing, and marketing of dental products, made this announcement during an investors’ conference on August 27, 2024, according to a statement by the European Network for Environmental Medicine.
The statement also included a letter from The World Alliance for Mercury-Free Dentistry, appealing to SDI to end dental amalgam production sooner.
“We find it deeply alarming that SDI will continue the production of dental amalgam until 2028. That is four more years of toxic mercury being released into the environment. BAN Toxics joins the World Alliance for Mercury-Free Dentistry, the European Network for Environmental Medicine, and other advocates in the fight to eliminate mercury worldwide, in calling the attention of SDI,” said Jam Lorenzo, BAN Toxics Deputy Executive Director.
In dentistry, amalgam is commonly used as a filling material for cavities in teeth. About half of a dental amalgam filling is liquid mercury, with the rest being a powdered mix of silver, tin, and copper. Mercury binds the alloy particles to create a strong, durable filling. However, a global effort to phase out mercury use in dentistry has gained momentum due to concerns over its environmental and health impacts.
Mercury is a highly toxic, naturally occurring heavy metal. It is a neurotoxin that can cause irreparable damage to the central and peripheral nervous system. Inhaling Mercury vapor can adversely affect the nervous, digestive, and immune systems, as well as the lungs and kidneys, and can potentially be fatal. It has long environmental persistence and global mobility – cycling through the atmosphere, ocean, and land. Its emissions and releases can bioaccumulate and biomagnify in the food chain, posing a significant threat to human health and the environment.
A study done by BAN Toxics in 2015 concluded that Mercury emissions from dental clinics and institutions “can be substantial and usually exceed general accepted human exposure limits.” Dental amalgams are the primary source of mercury exposure for individuals who have them while dental professionals are also at risk of Mercury intoxication from inhaling mercury vapours during the storage, preparation, and use of dental amalgam.
According to the UNEP Global Mercury Partnership, an estimated 30% to 40% of mercury in amalgam enters solid waste streams and accumulates in water, soil, and the atmosphere. Meanwhile, the World Alliance for Mercury-Free Dentistry states that research findings indicate about 60% of amalgam from capsules ends up directly in the waste during processing. Mercury from fillings is also emitted or released into the environment through cremation, burials, and excretion.
Based on reports and other official documents from the Minamata Convention on Mercury, 45 countries have already banned the use of dental amalgam by law. This includes the Philippines, which issued the Department of Health (DOH) Administrative Order (AO) 2020-0020, titled “Guidelines on the Phase-out of Mercury Use in Dental Restorative Procedures,” in 2020. Additionally, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Circular No. 2022-003 bans all mercury-added thermometers, sphygmomanometers, dental amalgam capsules, and liquid mercury for use in dental restorative purposes.
However, market monitoring conducted by BAN Toxics earlier this year revealed that some dental supply stores in Manila are still selling mercury-added dental amalgam. A quick search on the popular online platform Shopee, as of writing, also showed the availability of dental mercury from domestic sellers. According to their Shopee accounts, the sellers are based in Bacoor, Las Piñas, Cebu City, and Davao City. Additionally, a number of China-based sellers of dental amalgam can also be found.
“While there is no evidence of SDI dental amalgam products entering our country, we cannot rule out the possibility that these products may be re-labeled and sold through online platforms or enter our country illegally. Given mercury’s nature as an indestructible, persistent pollutant with global mobility, the emissions and releases from SDI’s continued production of amalgam should be considered a global concern,” Lorenzo said.
According to their website, SDI has distributors and retailers in over 100 countries throughout the world and offices and warehouses in the US, Germany, and Brazil. In the Philippines, there is only one official distributor of SDI products. BAN Toxics reached out to this distributor in October 2022 and found that they are no longer selling dental amalgam.
SDI is the last publicly traded manufacturer of dental amalgam fully transitioning to mercury-free alternatives. Major competitors from the US, such as Dentsply Sirona and Kerr, have generally left the business. SDI’s 2023 Annual Report mentioned that they “continued to benefit from two of the main amalgam competitors leaving the category.” The same report noted that their North American sales increased by 7.3% due to this fact. SDI also reported that dental amalgam represented approximately 17.6% of their total sales, with sales rising from $15,328,000 in 2022 to $18,977,000 in 2023.
Ironically, SDI had received a $3 million grant from the Commonwealth Government in 2019 that successfully developed amalgam replacement products. In 2023, SDI became a co-financing partner of the GEF7 Project to phase down dental amalgam, contributing $4.5 million in-kind. SDI’s role in the project is to share knowledge and experience from the dental industry’s transition from manufacturing dental amalgam to alternative mercury-free dental restorative materials.
“It shouldn’t be ‘business as usual’ when it’s public health and the environment that is at stake. We urge SDI to prioritize global well-being over profit and end their production of mercury-added dental amalgam immediately,” Lorenzo said.
The Itsekiri Environmental Protection Initiative (IEPI) has called on the Federal Government, through the National Emergency Management Authority (NEMA), to take appropriate action to address dire situation currently unfolding in the Itsekiri community of Ogheye, and her adjoining communities of Ekekporo and Eketie, all located in Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State.
A community affected by ocean surge in Ogheye
In a petition titled: “An Open and Urgent Call to Save Ogheye, Ekekporo and Eketie Communities from Ocean Surge and Environmental Degradation” and endorsed by Ojumude Tosan Bishop and Egere Weyinmi, the IEPI Coordinator and Secretary respectively, the group lamented that Ogheye is being relentlessly washed away by a devastating ocean surge. It described the development as “a disaster fuelled by environmental degradation and exacerbated by climate change and oil exploration activities”.
The IEPI submitted: “The impact of this ocean surge has been severe and unyielding, with the communities facing the imminent threat of losing their homes, ancestral lands, and livelihoods where many sophisticated buildings and other structures have been washed away into the Atlantic Ocean, thereby rendering the people homeless as many seek refuge in other communities.
“The once thriving and vibrant community is now on the brink of destruction and extinction, with its people living in constant fear of the next wave of erosion that could sweep away everything they hold dear.”
The organisation noted that the Ogheye community, which is one of the major economic hubs of the south-western part of Delta State and Nigeria, is by the Atlantic shore where aquatic products were traded by Itsekiris, Ilajes, Ijaws, and many others, including Ghanaians and Benenios, who were foreign fishermen.
Bishop and Weyinmi stated that the immediate past Delta State administration led by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa completed and commissioned the Ogheye floating market, “but unfortunately, the community that harbours the much talked about market is presently under environmental threat”.
The IEPI officials disclosed that other neighbouring communities, such as Ekekporo and Eketie, “suffered a worse fate as they are currently almost 80% washed into the ocean by the same surge with zero attention from relevant authorities”.
They stated: “We call for mitigation measures to be put in place to help save the lives of habitats of the communities and protect their properties as the situation in these communities requires swift and coordinated action such as the implementation of coastal protection measures, providing necessary relocation assistance, and enforcing sustainable environmental practices that will prevent further degradation most especially by the crude oil multinational corporations operating in the locality.
“We implore all relevant stakeholders to rise to the occasion and provide the much-needed intervention to save our people from this looming catastrophe.
“We urgently appeal to the Federal Government, through the National Emergency Management Authority (NEMA) to take appropriate action as this is part of the reason for their existence. Also, the Delta State Government humbly led by Sheriff Francis Oborevwori.
“Not leaving out the Federal Ministry of Environment, Nigeria Environmental Society (NES), Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, Delta State Commissioner for Environment, DESOPADEC, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, NNPCL, Nigeria Public Complaint Commission (NPCC), all multinational corporations involved in oil exploration in the locality, and other stakeholders to rise to the occasion, intervene immediately, and provide the much-needed intervention to save our people from this looming catastrophe.”
The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Felix Omatsola Ogbe, has commended the significant Nigerian Content strides achieved in the Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG) Train 7 Project.
The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Felix Omatsola Ogbe
Speaking on Friday, September 6, 2024, during a visit to the NLNG six-train plant, Train 7 Project construction site, and the NLNG Shipping and Marine Services Limited (NSML) training centre, Maritime Centre for Excellence (MCOE) in Finima, Bonny Island, Rivers State, Ogbe emphasised the need for increased collaboration and advocacy for Nigerian Content in the oil and gas industry.
Ogbe was received by Mr. Olakunle Osobu, Deputy Managing Director; Nnamdi Anowi, General Manager of Production; Ali Uwais, Train 7 Project Director; Mr. Abdulkadir Ahmed, NSML Managing Director/CEO; and other senior management officials of the company.
During his address, the Executive Secretary highlighted how the Train 7 Project has significantly boosted local capacity through the production of ancillary components and accessories within Nigeria, contributing directly to the project’s successful execution. He commended the recent Presidential Directives on Local Content implementation, which mandate that contracts in the oil and gas sector be awarded exclusively to local companies with proven in-country capabilities, as instrumental to these achievements.
Reflecting on the progress made, Ogbe stated, “The accomplishments we are witnessing today at the NLNG Train 7 Project are a testament to the NLNG’s unwavering commitment to Nigerian Content. This project stands as a beacon of what we can achieve when we prioritise our local industries and talents.”
Speaking further, the NCDMB boss lauded NLNG’s management for achieving 52 million man-hours on the Train 7 project with zero lost time injury (LTI). He assured that “we will support you to achieve everything you desire to accomplish for the overall development of Nigeria.”
The NCDMB boss also commended his immediate predecessor, Engr. Simbi Kesiye Wabote, for his immense contributions to the approval, take-off and success of the Train 7 project.
Commenting on the Maritime Centre for Excellence (MCOE), Ogbe expressed delight that it is the first training centre in Africa to receive accreditation from the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (UK MCA) to deliver and issue certificates for the STCW 2010 Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS) and Basic Liquefied Gas Tanker Cargo Operations courses.
The MCOE, a maritime training and research facility, aims to enhance maritime expertise in Nigeria and the West African region. It currently hosts a specialised training programme for marine services providers in the upstream oil and gas sector, with the support of NCDMB.
In his comments, NLNG’s Deputy Managing Director, Mr. Olakunle Osobu, who represented Dr. Philip Mshelbila, NLNG’s MD/CEO, lauded the NCDMB’s unwavering support for the Train 7 Project, describing the partnership as a shining example of the public-private collaboration that can drive Nigeria’s industrial growth. He emphasised that NLNG’s Nigerian Content deliverables showcase the power of strategic collaboration and capacity building, aligning with the NCDMB’s broader objectives and contributing to national development goals.
Mr. Osobu further reiterated that Nigerian Content was not just a regulatory requirement for NLNG but a core business strategy. “We are committed to going beyond compliance, embracing Nigerian Content as a fundamental part of our vision of helping to build a better Nigeria,” he added.
He also highlighted the economic impact of the Train 7 Project, stating that the addition of Train 7 will expand Nigeria’s LNG production capacity from 22 Metric Tons (MT) to 30MT per annum, which will not only boost the nation’s economy by creating jobs and driving sustainable development but also reinforce Nigeria’s position as a formidable player in the global energy market.
Ogbe’s visit comes on the heels of a recent tour of BEAMCO Limited, where pumps and valves are locally assembled for the Train 7 Project, and the commissioning of the Daewoo Galvanising Plant at Abam-ama, Okrika, Rivers State.
At the close of the 10th special session of the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN), Ministers adopted the African common position, highlighting the continent’s key priorities for the upcoming 29th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP29) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
African Group of Negotiators on Climate Change (AGN) officials at the 10th AMCEN in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire
AMCEN, an annual gathering of African Environment Ministers to discuss and strengthen environmental governance, was this year held from August 30 to September 6, 2024, in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, under the theme: “Raising Africa’s Ambition to Reduce Land Degradation, Desertification, and Drought.”
Over the years, a key agenda of AMCEN is the African common position on climate change negotiations – a declaration containing key priorities and messages in the various themes of the climate negotiation process.
The need to unlock climate finance has, for years, dominated the discussions for Africa, and it was equally the case at this year’s session, at which the importance of climate finance was highlighted and reiterated.
It was reported that despite African countries submitting ambitious Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), there hasn’t been corresponding support for their implementation. To achieve their NDCs, African countries need an estimated $2.8 trillion between 2020 and 2030.
“As we head to COP29, the Africa group is prioritising the need for ambitious climate finance outcomes. We are particularly focusing on an ambitious New Quantified Goal on Climate Finance (NCQG) outcome that is based on evolving needs as reflected in developing countries’ NDCs, National Adaptation Plans, and other national climate planning and programming instruments.
“Our position includes: a quantum of $1.3 trillion per annum by 2030; quality of finance that is informed by criteria including debt sustainability, cost of borrowing, and significantly from public sources, thus emphasising grant and highly concessional finance; and transparent mechanisms in respect of accountability,” said Ali Mohamed, Chair of the African Group of Negotiators on Climate Change (AGN), in his presentation on Africa’s priorities.
The adopted AMCEN climate change decision further highlights the importance of adaptation to Africa, in the context of its well-known vulnerabilities to climate change, particularly in climate sensitive sectors such as agriculture and water, with cascading effects into the health sector.
“As highlighted in the 2023 State of Climate Report in Africa, the continent remains on the front lines of fighting climate change and its impacts; from rising temperatures to shifting rainfall patterns, and other extreme weather events. Consequently, key sectors such as agriculture, water and health are in dire straits. Crumbling agricultural productivity and production due to either droughts or floods, water scarcity and rising temperatures are not only causing food insecurity but also leading to serious health challenges for the people.
“Both health and climate experts keep highlighting nutrition-related challenges, heat stress, occurrence and increase of certain infectious diseases such as malaria and waterborne illnesses, among others. A deeper understanding on this nexus is a must for effective adaptation,” noted the AGN Chair.
Other key priorities for Africa contained in the adopted common position include: the call for the operationalisation of the Loss and Damage Fund to support African countries in coping with the irreversible impacts of climate change and aid in the recovery of affected communities; equitable just transition in the context of Africa’s unique needs and development circumstances; the need to launch work on Africa’s special needs and special circumstances recognising Africa’s vulnerability; and finalisation of rules for carbon markets that are robust and deliver environmental integrity and the long-term goals of the Paris Agreement.
Inger Andersen, UNEP Executive Director, said: “African nations need support from the international community. But, in the spirit of the September 2023 Africa Climate Summit, let us remind ourselves what African Heads of State noted: namely that Africa is a continent of solutions… This is a continent of solutions. Not victims. You are climate leaders, with solutions to our global crisis.”
Simon Stiell, UNFCCC Executive Secretary: “The continent has been warming at a faster rate than the global average. From Algeria to Zambia, climate-driven disasters are getting worse, inflicting the most suffering on those who did least to cause them. In Africa, as in all regions, the climate crisis is an economic sinkhole, sucking the momentum out of economic growth. In fact, many African nations are losing up to 5% of GDP because of climate impacts.”
Ibrahim Thiaw, UNCCD Executive Secretary: “As we speak, the Sahel is severely affected by floods notably in Niger, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Mali and Sudan. There is hardly any year where floods, drought or loss of fertile land is not hitting the continent. It is heartbreaking to see that Zimbabwe, Malawi and Zambia –once breadbaskets – are listed among the most affected by malnutrition caused by drought. In Namibia, crippling drought is pushing both people and wildlife to the brink. The loss of productive land across the continent, coupled with the disruptions caused by the increased and erratic rainfall patterns, have reached such levels that young African men and women have no choice but to abandon their farms; flee their villages and their countries.”
Hanan Morsy, Deputy Executive Secretary and Chief Economist, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa: “Climate change is costing African economies up to 15% of GDP annually. Governments are diverting up to 9% of their budgets to cope with extreme weather, while grappling with debt distress, facing difficult trade-offs between climate action and meeting critical development needs, such as health and education.”
Aden Duale, Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry, Kenya: “Kenya is pursuing innovative policies and interventions designed to bolster resilience against the increasingly severe impacts of climate change, particularly droughts. In recent years, Kenya has faced significant challenges due to recurring droughts, which have threatened food security and strained water resources.”
A permanent bird observatory in Galala, Egypt, is set to become a reality following a $125,000 donation raised during Global Birdfair, held in Rutland, UK. The sum, said to be the largest ever raised for a single conservation project at the fair, was announced on Friday, September 6, 2024, and marks a significant achievement for the 2024 “Creating Brighter Futures” project.
Khaled Noby, NCE CEO, recieving the Birdfair donation from Martin Harper, BirdLife International CEO
Global Birdfair raises funds for conservation each year and donates funds to BirdLife International for a project chosen by Global Birdfair for that year. The Galala Bird Observatory will play a crucial role in monitoring bird species that utilise the African-Eurasian Flyway – a key migratory route used by hundreds of thousands of raptors, and other soaring birds migrating from Africa to Europe every year.
It is believed that the substantial contribution will prove pivotal in reinforcing the pioneering initiative in Egypt, which is spearheaded by the Egyptian Ministry of Environment and BirdLife’s Partner, Nature Conservation Egypt (NCE). The achievement has been described as the result of three years of joint efforts with other organisations, focused on identifying the most suitable location for the observatory, determining the most effective monitoring system and building capacity to conduct the count, among other activities.
During the spring migration season, an average of 350,000 birds from 30 to 35 species are observed at Galala, with raptors representing the most prominent group. In the most recent observation period, 11% of the global population of Egyptian vultures (a threatened species), 25% of spotted eagles and nearly 50% of steppe eagles were recorded passing through this vital bottleneck, which connects breeding areas in Eastern Europe, Western and Central Asia with their wintering grounds In Africa.
The observations provide essential data on population changes and migration patterns, while also offering invaluable insights into the conservation needs of these species along the African-Eurasian flyway. The data collected at Galala will facilitate the implementation of new conservation strategies to protect this diverse biodiversity corridor, ensuring its continued viability.
Tim and Penny Appleton, founders and organisers of Global Birdfair, thanked all those who helped raise the sum including BirdLife’s sponsors, the 13,000 people who attended the fair in July and to the volunteers who give their time so freely.
“We are pleased to have once again been able to donate to BirdLife International to support global conservation,” they added.
“Thanks to this generous gift Global Birdfair, NCE and its Galala project will be able to raise awareness and understanding of migratory birds to drive conservation action across the region. BirdLife remains incredibly grateful to the whole Birdfair community for their sustained commitment to saving our shared nature,” said Martin Harper, BirdLife International CEO.
“The generous Birdfair fund has arrived at just the right time to support NCE’s efforts over the past four years, as we’ve worked to highlight the importance of the Galala Bird Observatory (GBO) in monitoring soaring bird migration through Europe, Asia, and Africa. NCE could never have achieved this recognition without the support of the power of many; BirdLife International.
“I am grateful to the amazing BirdLife Partners; BSBP, NABU, and RSPB. Last but not least, I’d like to thank H.E. the Minister of Environment in Egypt for her continued support of the GBO and for facilitating all related efforts,” said Khaled Noby, CEO, Nature Conservation Egypt.
The Akwa Ibom Oil Producing Community Development Network (AKIPCON) has expressed concerns over an impending fish scarcity in the Niger Delta, owing to environmental pollution caused by oil spills and gas flaring, sea piracy and insecurity.
A water body in the Niger Delta region polluted by an oil spill
Founder and President of AKIPCON, Ufot A. Phenson, stated this during the public presentation and launch of the book, titled “State Security Management, Hydrocarbon Pollution, Environment and Implications on Human Rights in Nigeria”, which held on September 5, 2024, in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital.
In his presentation, Phenson said that gas flaring and incessant oil spills have forced many fisherfolks to abandon the fishing occupation, as the water bodies and aquatic life have been disrupted by oil and gas leaks. Ufot warned that the unchecked pollution, including the most recent in Ibeno Local Government Area of the state, would worsen the food crisis that locals are already facing and force many into crime.
He faulted the government for not doing enough to ensure the protection of the environment and the livelihoods of the common people, as oil producing communities in Akwa Ibom and the Niger Delta have been subjected to high levels of poverty, without the required infrastructural development.
In his welcome remarks, Chairman of the occasion and Executive Director of Environmental Defenders Network (EDEN), Barrister Chima Williams, said that the book is timely and captures in clear and understandable language the situation in most communities in the Niger Delta where oil is mined.
Williams stressed that the insecurity in the Niger Delta is fuelled by the pollutions and neglect of the host communities and their frustrations as producers of the golden egg but have nothing to show for it
The EDEN executive director opined that the solution to the environment crisis in Akwa Ibom, like much of the Niger Delta, must start with a comprehensive environmental audit to determine the amount of destruction of the ecosystem to be able to come up with holistic solutions.
He described the author of the book as eminently qualified to x-ray the issues bedevilling the Niger Delta oil belt and proffer solutions as one who has traversed the public service and now engaging with the impacted peoples at the grassroots.
He used the opportunity to also disclose that EDEN will work with AKIPCON to continue to document oil impacts and challenge the relevant state institutions to take action to remediate the environment and hold its destructors to account.
Williams was also honoured by AKIPON with an Award of Excellence, in recognition of his exemplary leadership role in environment justice and human rights in the society.
The highlight of the book lunch was the swearing in of the AKIPCON Executive council and local government coordinating committees.
The event had civil society activists, traditional rulers, researchers, the media, and members of AKIPCON from the 31 local government areas of the state.
As the curtain comes down on the 10th Special Session of the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN) in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, another chapter begins. Just around the corner is the COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, in November 2024, where the consolidated views from AMCEN will be presented with ambitious expectations, represented by the African Group of Negotiators (AGN).
A session at AMCEN 2024
At the heart of the Abidjan meeting is a push for more climate finance flows to Africa through sustainable channels that won’t load African economies with more debts. The end goal is to strengthen the continent’s adaptation and mitigation defence systems against climate change and allow the countries to achieve a just transition. This perspective mirrors that of Ministers from the 45 least developed countries (LDCs) who gathered in Lilongwe, Malawi, last week.
The Finance COP
COP29 is aptly referred to as the “Finance COP.” Nothing short of ambitious financial outcomes is expected.
African Ministers under AMCEN declared that a New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) on climate finance should be adopted, one that would require rich nations to mobilise a quantum of no less than $1.3 trillion per year for developing nations. NCQG is a new financial target from the year 2025 onwards that developed countries, who are the biggest contributors to climate change, must avail to developing countries, replacing the previous commitment of $100 billion per year that they pledged in 2009 but failed to deliver on time.
Meanwhile, the LDCs, under the Lilongwe Declaration on Climate Change 2024, want the new climate finance goal to be science-based and reflective of the developing countries’ actual climate needs through increased public finance, predominantly delivered as grants. The LDC Ministers put the finance needed by their countries to implement their current climate goals to be at least $1 trillion. Also, they hold that only concessional finance should be included as climate finance and must be easily accessible.
Grants and concessional finance are crucial, in particular for adaptation and loss and damage, given that it is the rich nations that have historically caused the unsustainable build-up of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, stoking global warming to dangerous levels.
It is COP29’s role to deliver a financing deal geared towards achieving the goals set in previous COPs – Glasgow, Sharm el-Sheikh and Dubai, AMCEN Ministers note. It should also be responsive to the evolving needs of the respective countries’ climate action plans, including their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and National Adaptation Plans (NAPs), while reflecting the global stocktake outcomes and latest scientific and technological advancements.
To avoid missteps associated with previous pledges, the AMCEN and the LDC Ministers are calling for the new finance goal to contain predictable, time-bound and reliable financial commitments from each of the developed countries.
Both groups have made it clear that the new finance goal must be delivered by developed countries jointly, in a fair and equitable manner. They have continually signalled the importance of burden-sharing arrangements among these countries to increase scale of finance and ascertain delivery of commitments.
Global finance reforms
Developing countries face a crippling debt crisis worsened by increasing climate impacts. The Ministers from both groups are asking the international financial institutions (IFIs) and multilateral development banks (MDBs) to reform their funding approach towards less developed nations. They should be more responsive to Africa’s needs, review their finance terms, and be more open to debt restructuring and relief on need basis, in what would unlock climate and development finance without pushing these countries deeper into unsustainable debt.
The Ministers have reiterated that climate finance should be given in form grants and not loans which have worsened the debt situation.
Activate loss and damage fund
AMCEN and LDC Ministers want the Loss and Damage Fund to be urgently operationalised and capitalised, as well as the Santiago Network meant to connect vulnerable countries with global providers of technical assistance, knowledge and resources needed to address climate risks. The LDC ministers, in particular, want the fund to be set up with modalities that enable rapid, simple and direct budget support to governments through national treasuries and ministries of finance, as well as to enable direct access for national and subnational entities.
The African Ministers have called for the reconsideration of the decision to host the Santiago Network in Geneva rather than Nairobi. The LDC Ministers are pushing for the inclusion of a sub-goal on loss and damage in the NCQG.
Adaptation efforts
Similarly, the Ministers are asking for Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA) to be fully operationalised and ensure adequate adaptation response to protect people, livelihoods and ecosystems from natural disasters, with a special focus on finance, capacity building and technology transfer. The amount of adaptation finance needed is about $360 billion annually, compared to about $18 billion that was available in 2019.
COP29, according to AMCEN leaders, should send the right policy signals on operationalising common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities (CBDR&RC), which acknowledges the different abilities and share of responsibilities of each country in addressing climate change. Additionally, the just transition framework should reflect the priorities of Africa, in particular green industrialisation, sustainable use and value addition of natural resources, as well as addressing energy poverty and clean cooking needs.
Evans Njewa, Chair of the Least Developed Countries Group, said: “We want COP29 to deliver a bold commitment to address climate change. This is not just about promises; it’s about providing the resources needed to protect the lives and livelihoods of millions on the frontlines of the climate crisis. The LDCs are calling for an ambitious New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) on climate finance that reflects the actual financial needs of developing countries, ensuring they can implement their NDCs, adapt to climate impacts, and address loss and damage.”
Amos Wemanya, Greenpeace Africa Responsive Lead, said: “COP29 presents African governments and African Group of Negotiators (AGN) on climate change an opportunity to present a strong case for debt free, public and adequate climate finance to meet the needs of communities on the front line of the crisis.
“This is not time for African governments to gamble with carbon offsets and private finance as climate finance. We have been here before, and all these have proved to be dangerous distractions to finding real solutions to the climate challenges on our continent.
“Rich countries should make polluters, especially the fossil industry pay for the losses and damages caused to our communities. Africa needs climate finance to invest in renewable energy, ecosystem protection, land restoration and food sovereignty.
“At COP29, wealthy countries must provide leadership in providing the scale of climate finance required to tackle the climate crisis and restore trust in the multilateral system.”
Iskander Erzini Vernoit, Director, Imal Initiative for Climate and Development, said; “The African Ministerial reconfirms the position of the African Negotiators, to call for $1.3 trillion per year in the new goal for climate finance, which aligns with the best available needs assessment literature. Moreover, crucially, it stipulates that this should be mainly in the form of grants and concessional finance, and points to a need for the NCQG to specify a clear share for public grant finance.
“The onus is now clearly on developed countries to come to Baku ready to provide the finance necessary to help the world to fulfil the Paris Agreement, or their commitment to the Paris Agreement will be in doubt. African countries, as AMCEN notes, are already spending significant percentages of their GDP per year on climate change, despite not having caused this crisis, and so it is only right that the developed countries who are responsible for this crisis do the same.”
Yared Abera Deme, Climate Diplomacy Associate at World Resources Institute, Africa, said: “Both the Africa Group and the Least Developed Countries (LDC) group have made a decisive call on their declarations for a climate finance goal of no less than $1 trillion annually. This proposal reflects the urgent and evolving needs of our countries to adapt to climate impacts, address loss and damage, and transition to low-carbon economies.
“Ensuring that this finance is delivered primarily through grants and concessional finance is essential to avoiding further debt burdens on African/vulnerable countries. If COP29 delivers on this ambition, it will not only provide critical support for the most affected regions but also reaffirm the strength and relevance of multilateralism in addressing global challenges. Reaching a consensus on this figure would send a powerful signal that the international community remains committed to cooperation, equity, and shared responsibility in the fight against climate change.”
Julius Mbatia, Climate Finance Expert, said: “The global financial architecture has not benefited developing countries as its functioning and arrangements fall short of developing countries’ needs and realities. AMCEN’s resolve to pursue a system that is more responsive to Africa’s and developing countries’ needs in negotiations relating to the reform of the financial architecture is laudable.
“Whilst Africa remains a climate hotspot experiencing ruinous climate impacts, it holds immense natural and human capital that signify economic transformation potential if the right finance and economic tools are made available. However, the current system barely works for the continent. The determination of the new climate finance goal in COP29 must settle Africa’s struggle with debt, high cost of capital, expensive technologies, and inadequate finance to address climate change.
“Climate finance should be new and additional as the climate crisis imposes an additional burden to already constrained and struggling African countries.”
Joab Okanda, a Climate and Energy policy expert, said: “Grants based adaptation finance provided at scale that reflects the greater needs assessment, including by UNEP, and increasing costs of adaptation and loss damage is the lifeline for Africa and the lens through which African countries can build trust with their developed countries counterparts.
“As AMCEN concludes and we head to Baku in November, we must not fail communities on the frontline of the climate crisis by repeating the deliberate mistakes of the $100 billion goal by 2020 which was not only met but also failed to meet the 50-50 balance between adaptation and mitigation. Baku must ensure that finance for adaptation is scaled to at least $360 billion annually in grants equivalent. It is the only way that countries in Africa can adapt to changing climate and build resilient communities.”
